I prefer the open kitchen - particularly if it has front row seating. I'm a fanatic though. I'm not sure the general population cares much if the pies are good. I've been to plenty of places where it is difficult to see the pies being made and were packed with customers.

I think it's a huge factor that is overlooked if you're doing wood fired pizza. The 'show' will help bring people in (everybody loves a fire- just think of all the times you stare in a campfire). I also think that some of the mobile units out there that hide the oven mouth from people are hurting themselves.

Something to keep in mind. Open kitchen reveals what you're doing. I just had an experience with a WFO place with an open kitchen, and I was able to see first hand why I should never go back. The taste of the pies confirmed this.

Open kitchens are good for a business that will not be hurt by transparency.

If I opened a pizzeria in an empty shell, I would most certainly design it to have an open kitchen, because I want people to see how we prepare the food we serve. I want people to see that we wash our hands and treat everyone's food as if we were making it for ourselves. That's in addition to the things other people have already mentioned.

Unlike many (or most) pizza joints, which hide their kitchen behind a wall, "Ryan's Pizzeria" has nothing to hide. Prospective and existing customers notice and respond to things like that.

I posted this once before in another thread, I had a discussion of Shakey's at another site (non-pizza) and a guy posted something that I think captured it all and worth repeating here ...

"Shakey's Pizza . . . yes, I'm old enough to remember that Tulsa icon! I loved going there, pressing my nose against the window, watching the cooks toss the dough in the air, waiting for your playing card (which was your order "number") to be called, listening to that lady playing the piano, sitting on the long bench seats at the picnic style tables with parents drinking pitchers of beer . . . Yes, those WERE the days!! Between those memories and that picture my mouth is watering right now!"